Separator



Oct. 4, 1966 Filed Oct. 4, 1963 FIG. I

FIG. 4

WATER DEPOSIT F. W. BOOTH SEPARATOR 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 CONDENSER FIG. 5

SEPARATOR BLADE ANGLE INVENTOR FRANKLIN W. BOOTH ATTORNEYS Oct. 4, 1966 F. w. BOOTH 3,276,679

SEPARAIOR Filed Oct. 4, 1965 2 Sheets-Sheet Z INVENTOR F RANKLIN W. BOOTH XKQA ATTORNEYS United States Patent O 3,276,679 SEPARATOR Franklin W. Booth, Hampton, Va., assignor to the United States of America as represented by the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration Filed Oct. 4, 1963, Ser. No. 314,074 9 Claims. '(Cl. 233-11) The invention described herein may be manufactured and used by or for the Government of the United States of America. for governmental purposes without the payment of any royalties thereon or therefor.

This invention relates generally to separators and more particularly to liquid-gaseous separators operating in zero gravity environments.

During sustained flights into outer space it becomes necessary to purify materials, especially water, in order to reuse them and to maintain low humidity within the space vehicle without unduly increasing weight or size requirements. Use of separators utilizing a centrifugal force to aid purification is well known. Although such separators have means for forcing material or ingredients outwardly, they rely upon gravity for removal of at least one of the separated ingredients and in a zero gravity environment could not accomplish their intended function. Failure to remove a separated ingredient would result in an overabundance thereof with the consequence that, after a short period of operation, the collected ingredient would prevent'further collection. The prior art separators are of a size that would require a considerable volume within the vehicle for efiicient operation. Additionally, the weight of known separators is such that their use in space vehicles is impractical.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a simple and efficient separating apparatus that is capable of operating in a zero gravity environment and is of a size and weight to be practicable in a space vehicle.

Another object of the invention is a separating apparatus for operation under zero gravity conditions which utilizes a centrifugal force for separating materials and positive displacement means for removing the collected material.

Still another object of the instant invention is a cen trifuge separating apparatus operating in cooperation with a condenser for dehumidification in a zero gravity environment. 2

A further object of the present invention is to provide a method of separating materials in a zero gravity environment by deflecting an influent against the interior of a centrifuge bowl where one of the influent ingredients is collected and removed to a storage container.

Generally speaking, the foregoing and other objects are accomplished in accordance with this invention by providing a deflector within a centrifuge which directs the materials toward the wall of the centrifuge where the heavier or more dense material is collected and from which it is withdrawn by an impact pump and conveyed through a conduit to a storage container.

A more complete appreciation of the invention and many of the attendant advantages thereof will be readily apparent as the same becomes better understood by reference to the following detailed description when considered in connection with the accompanying drawing wherein:

FIG. 1 is a longitudinal sectionview of one embodiment of the centrifuge separating apparatus for operation in a zero gravity environment;

FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken on line 2-2 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken on line 3-3 of FIG. 1 with portions omitted for clarity;

FIG. 4 is a schematic of a system incorporating the invention; and

3,276,679 Patented Oct. 4, 1966 FIG. 5 is a line diagram showing the blade angle.

Referring now to the drawing wherein like reference numerals designate identical or corresponding parts throughout the several views, and more particularly to FIG. 1 wherein the separator, generally designated by reference numeral 10, is shown as having a casing 20 with a central longitudinal axis A. Although casing 20 may be of any shape, it is shown as being substantially bell-shaped having an inlet 12 located centrally of the shoulder end 14 thereof and an outlet 16 centrally located in mouth closure member 18. Conduit 2-2 is attached to inlet 12 for conveying the material to be separated into separator 10 and conduit 24 is connected to outlet 16 to provide means for conveying a separated material or ingredient from separator 10. Attached to the interior of casing 20 at inlet end 14 is shaft mount 26 that supports shaft bearing 28 in order to permit efficient rotation of a shaft 32. Motor mount 34 is located adjacent mouth closure member 18 of casing 20 for rigidly securing motor 40 in place within casing 20. In order to assist in the separation of the materials, the interior of closure member 18 may be provided with a circumferential cover flange 58 that extends toward inlet 12 of casing 20. As more fully described hereinafter, the edge of cover flange 58 nearest inlet 12 need only be spaced a slight distance inwardly from the interior side of casing 20.

Motor 40 is provided with a shaft 32 that has one end thereof supported by bearing 28. Shaft 32 has diskshaped deflector 42 attached thereto. The face of deflector 42 nearest the inlet of casing 20 is substantially perpendicular to axis A and acts as a deflecting surface 44 to direct the influent outwardly toward the interior of the wall of casing 20. The circumferential edge 46 of deflector 42 has fan blades 48 mounted thereon. These fan blades 48 are substantially inverted L-shaped and have first portion 52 secured to deflecting surface 44 and second portion 54 secured to circumferential edge 46. It has been found that omission of first portion 52 of blades 48 does not detract from the overall efiiciency of the separator and, accordingly, first portion 52 of fan blades 48 may be omitted without departing from the concept of the invention.

Within casing 20 and extending beyond face 44 of diskshaped deflector 42 and attached to fan blades 48 is a substantially bell-shaped centrifuge bowl 60 having inlet 62 centrally located in closed portion 64 which is positioned adjacent inlet 12 of casing 20. The side wall 66 of centrifuge bowl 60 terminates in a substantially U- shapedcollecting ring or channel 68 having side flanges 72 and 74 and a bottom 76. As shown in FIG. 1, side wall 66 of centrifuge bowl 60 is tapered such that the diameter of centrifuge bowl 60 is greater nea-r mouth 78 thereof than at the shoulder or closed portion 64 thereof. The collecting ring 68 extends circumferentially around mouth 78 of centrifuge bowl 60 and has blades or projections 82 mounted on bottom 76 thereof for maintaining the rotary motion of the collected ingredient. The collecting ring or channel 68 may also be provided with a cellular or porous material 86, such as sponge rubber or plastics, adjacent flange 72 and a perforated member 84 extending inwardly from bottom 76 toward central longi-. tudinal axis A. The cellular material 86.and perforated member 84 provide additional means to aid by capillary action in the collection of a separated ingredient, but may be omitted without detracting from the operation of the invention.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, an impact pump is utilized as a positive displacement means for removing the collected ingredient and conveying it to some desired location. The impact pump 90 is formed from a tubular member and is provided with a first portion 92 that acts as an inlet or scoop the open face of which is directed into the rotary direction of the material collected in collecting ring or channel 68. The first portion 92 of impact pump 90 is located substantially parallel to the bottom of collecting ring 68, outwardly of side wall 66 and inwardly of the outer portion of blades or projections 82. Attached to and forming an extension of first portion 92 of impact pump 90 is a second portion 94 that is directed inwardly toward central longitudinal axis A and is substantially perpendicular to bottom 76 of collecting ring 68. Impact pump 90 is also provided with a third portion or outlet 96 that extends, and acts as a conduit for conveying the collected material, to a storage container 100 that may be located as desired.

In order to adapt the system for operation as a dehumidifier, any known type of condenser 110', as shown diagrammatically in FIG. 4, may be provided for converting gas to aerosol containing vapor prior to the gas flowing into separator 10. Conventional mechanism, such as a pressure pump, not shown, may be provided if necessary for forcing the air through the condenser and the vapor through the separator rather than utilizing a built-in fan.

Operation The apparatus of the instant invention will have means such as conduit 22 for conveying the material to be separated into'separator 10. A gas vapor containing aerosols is forced into inlet 12 in casing 20 and encounters deflecting surface 44 which changes the direction of flow of the vapor toward the interior of side wall 66 of centrifuge bowl 60. Rotation of shaft 32 and associated fan blades 48 aids in directing the vapor toward centrifuge side wall 66. When the Vapor impinges upon side wall 66, the water, being the heavier or denser of the ingredients of the vapor, is forced outwardly by centrifugal force and forms a thin layer or film on the interior of side wall-66. As shown in FIG. 1, side wall 66 of centrifuge bowl 60 has an increasing diameter from closed portion 64 toward collecting ring 68; thus, the water is caused, by centrifugal force, to flow from closed portion 64 toward collecting ring 68. Because centrifugal forces tend to force the heavier or more dense material outwardly, the thin film of water is maintained and flows toward collecting ring 68- where it is collected.

The collected water, because of centrifugal forces, tends to collect on bottom 76 of collecting ring 68. The blades or projections 82 on bottom 76 of collecting ring or channel 68 act to maintain ,the rotary or circular motion of the collected water which is necessary for the proper functioning of impact pump 90. When a suflicient amount of water has been collected in channel 68 to cover first portion or inlet 92 of impact pump 90, the water is forced into first portion 92 and the pressure of the water behind that entering forces the water in inlet 92 through second portion 94 and third portion 96 and subsequently into a liquid storage container 100, such as is shown in the schematic of FIG. 5.

As indicated hereinbefore, the heavier or denser water forms a thin film on side wall 66 of centrifuge bowl 60 and, since the gas is less dense than the Water forming the film, the centrifugal force created within the centrifuge has less effect thereon. Accordingly, because the gas is being forced through separator and a smooth flow thereof is aided by cover flange 58, the gas will not tend to flow outwardly and will thus flow through the separator and be exhausted through outlet 16. In the event that the gas needs to be retained, a conduit 24 is attached to casing 20 at outlet 16 thereof.

It has been found that by placing center line B of fan 'blades 48 at an angle to central longitudinal axis A, as shown in FIG. 5, of casing 20 and centrifuge bowl 60, it is possible to accomplish greater eificiency in operation of separator 10. It is to be understood that in some particular operations it isdesirable to omit first portion 52 of fanblades 48 in order to avoid heat, produced by friction of the influent engaging the blades and interior of closed portions 64, that would tend to evaporate the moisture contained in the vapor and thus enhance the overall efliciency of separator 10. It is also to be understood that deflector 42 on shaft 32 and fan blades 48 may have some other type of fan, such as a squirrel cage type, substituted therefor. In fact, the fan structure may be completely omitted if the influent has suflicient force and a deflector is provided for directing the influent outwardly toward side wall 66 and a conventional mecha nism is provided for rotation of centrifuge bowl 60.

Obviously many modifications and variations of the subject invention are possible in the light of the above teachings. It is, therefore, to be understood that within the scope of the appended claims the invention may be practiced otherwise than as specifically described.

What is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. A separator comprising: a casing having an inlet and an outlet; the cross-sectional area of said casing being equal to or greater than the area of said inlet; a motor having a shaft extending substantially parallel to the line of flow of said casing inlet; deflector means; centrifuge bowl means mounted on said shaft; said centrifuge bowl means increasing in diameter from one end to the other in the direction of flow; channel means on said centrifuge bowl for collecting a separated ingredient; and pump means for removing the collected ingredient whereby separation of fluids can be effected in a zero gravity environment.

2. A separator for operation under zero gravity conditions comprising: a casing having an inlet at one end and an outlet at the other end; the cross-sectional area of said casing being greater than the area of said inlet; a motor having a shaft; said shaft extending into said casing; deflector means mounted on said shaft; centrifuge bowl means having an inlet and outlet; said centrifuge bowl means increasing in diameter from the inlet toward the outlet thereof; collecting means adjacent the outlet of said centrifuge bowl means for collecting the separated ingredient; and means for removing the separated ingre dient from said collecting means.

3. A dehumidifier for operation under zero gravity conditions comprising: a casing having an inlet at one end and an outlet at the other end; the cross-sectional area of said casing being greater than the area of said inlet; a motor having a'shaft; 'said shaft extending into said casing; deflector means mounted on said shaft; centrifuge bowl means having an inlet and outlet; said centrifuge bowl means increasing in diameter from the inlet toward the outlet thereof; collecting means adjacent the outlet of said centrifuge bowl'mea'ns for collecting the separated ingredient; means for removing the separated ingredient from said collecting means; and means adjacent said casing inlet for condensing air into vapor whereby the liquid is separated from the vapor and dehumidification of air occurs.

4. A separator for operation in a zero gravity environment comprised of: a casing having an inlet at one end and an outlet at the other end; a centrifuge bowl mounted within said casing and having an inlet at one end thereof; the opposite end of said centrifuge bowl terminating in a collecting ring; means for maintaining the circular motion of matter in the collecting ring; pump means including means for taking the matter from said collecting ring and conveying it; said centrifuge bowl being mounted on the shaft of a motor; said shaft having a defiector'attached thereto; said deflector having a surface of greater area than the-cross-sectional area of 'the'inlet of either said casing or said centrifuge bowl to form a means'for direct ing the stream of flow against the side wall of the centrifuge bowl. v

5. A separator foroperation in a zero gravity environ: ment comprised of: a casing having inlet and outlet conduits attached to the opposite ends thereofjsaid conduits being of less cross-sectional area than said casing; a motor mounted within said casing; said mot-or having a shaft positioned about the central axis of said casing; the end portion of said shaft being enlarged to a diameter greater than that of the inlet conduit and having blades attached thereto at an angle to the longitudinal axis of the casing; a centrifuge bowl mounted upon said shaft; said centrifuge bowl having an inlet in the closed portion thereof; said centrifuge bowl increasing in diameter from adjacent the inlet conduit toward the outlet conduit; the lip of said centrifuge bowl being formed as a substantially U-shaped collecting ring having flanges and a bottom portion; the open portion of said collecting ring being directed inwardly; inwardly extending projections on the bottom portion of said collecting ring; a tubular member having a first portion located outwardly of the ends of said collecting ring flanges and inwardly of the said projections; and said tubular member having a second portion extending inwardly of the said collecting ring and a third portion extending from the said casing; whereby vapor entering the casing andcentrifuge bowl is directed against the inside surface of ring from which it is removed and the gas is separated from the liquid to be emitted from the casing through the outlet thereof.

6. A separator for operation in a zero gravity environment as in claim 5 including means Within said collecting ring for aiding in the collecting of one of the separated ingredients.

7. A separator for operation in a zero gravity environment as in claim 6 wherein said aiding means includes a porous material within said collecting ring.

8. A separator for operat-on in a zero gravity environment as in claim 7 wherein said aiding means includes a perforated member extending inwardly from the bottom portion of said collecting ring thereby providing a perthe centrifuge bowl with the liquid 7 forming a film thereon which moves toward the collecting forated barrier between said porous material and said projections.

9. A dehumidifier for operation in a zero gravity environment comprised of: a conduit attached to the inlet of a condenser; means for forcing gas through the conduit and condenser; a casing having an inlet at one end thereof attached to the outlet of said condenser; a substantially bell-shaped centrifuge bowl having an inlet in the closed portion thereof; said centrifuge bowl terminating-in a channel shaped collecting ring; the open portion of said collecting ring being directed inwardly toward the central longitudinal axis of said casing; said centrifuge bowl being mounted upon a shaft extending substantially parallel to the central longitudinal axis of said casing; a deflector mounted on said shaft substantially perpendicular thereto and adjacent the inlets of said casing and centrifuge bowl; fan blades mounted on the circumferential edge of said deflector at a longitudinal angle to the central longitudinal axis of said casing; means for rotating said shaft; impact pump means having an inlet within said collecting ring and extending through said casing; said casing having an outlet at the end opposite that of the inlet; and a second conduit attached to the outlet of said casing.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,197,120 4/ 1940 Bergmann -408 2,308,559 1/1943 Winkler 233-2 2,489,678 11/ 1949 S'harpces 233-28 2,519,971 8/1950 Le Clair 233-20 2,743,865 5/ 1956 Graae 233-7 2,752,089 6/ 1956 Zachariassen 233-19 2,910,226 10/ 1959 Thylefors 233-14 3,141,750 7/1964 Hungate 55-407 M. CARY NELSON, Primary Examiner.

HENRY T. KLINKSIEK, Examiner. 

1. A SEPARATOR COMPRISING: A CASING HAVING AN INLET AND AN OUTLET; THE CROSS-SECTIONAL AREA OF SAID CAUSING BEING EQUAL TO OR GREATER THAN THE AREA OF SAID INLET; A MOTOR HAVING A SHAFT EXTENDING SUBSTANTIALLY PARALLEL TO THE LINE OF FLOW OF SAID CASING INLET; DEFLECTOR MEANS; CENTRIFUGE BOWL MEANS MOUNTED ON SAID SHAFT; SAID CENTRIFUGE BOWL MEANS INCREASING IN DIAMETER FROM ONE END TO THE OTHER IN THE DIRECTION OF FLOW; CHANNEL MEANS ON SAID CENTRIFUGE BOWL FOR COLLECTING A SEPARATED INGREDIENT; AND PUMP MEANS FOR REMOVING THE COLLECTED INGREDIENT WHEREBY SEPARATION OF FLUIDS CAN BE EFFECTED IN A ZERO GRAVITY ENVIRONMENT. 